The 
STEWARDSHIP 

OF THE SOIL 




Address by 

JOHN HENRY WORST 

President of NORTH DAKOTA 
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



'^he Stewardship 
of the Soil 

BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS BY 

JOHN HENRY WORST 

PRESIDENT NORTH DAKOTA 
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 




Delivered at the 'twenty First Jlnnual Commencement of the 

^orth "Dakola Jlgricullural College 

Fargo, North Dakota, June Sixth, Nineteen Hundred Fifteen 






^ tiraziMPBx- 



o 
o 




JOHN HENRY WORST 



^he Stewardship of the Soil 

BijJ. H. WORST 

Our am1)iti()ns youiii^' eoiimioiiwealtli, in eon- 
junction wit] I other states comprising the great 
Northwest, occupies a commanding position in 
tlie industrial and economic affairs of this nation. 

Mines of gohl and silver or forests primeval 
Nortli Dakota does not liave ; but from tlie millions 
of fertile acres com])rising our vast agricultural 
empire, we may reap a golden harvest every year 
tliat will exceed in wealth the output of all the 
golden placers in tlie western mountains. 

Tlie harvest of minerals, however, can be gatb- 
ered Init once. Time will not I'estore the ))recious 
nuggets. 

Tbe forests oiiee liarvested can, at great ex- 
pense, be renewed in the course of a century; but 
our harvest of domestic ])lants and animals recurs 
with every ])assing season to recompense the 
farmer for his toil and to enrich the farnu'r's 
friends. 

. What a precious theme is harvest ! The hopes, 
the well-being, the life of the world is fast ])ouud 
u]) in the nuigic of this single word. 

'J'he soil upon wliieh the harvest de|)ends, more- 
over, is (4()d's henediction to humanity. Measured 
by conse(puMices, Heaven has vouchsafed no form 
of stewardshi]) that is fraught with such tremend- 
ous responsi))ilities as this stewardship of the soil. 
In the iinal analysis this stewardship represents 
the farmer's obligation to society. 

Page Seven 



And yet sacred as is tJio soil and l)iiiding as is 
tlie fanner's obligation to society, the means for 
providing the world's food is nevertheless at his 
mercy. 

It is a vrelhknown fact that the soil can readily 
he depleted of its fertility and thus rohbed of its 
strength by a system of exploitation, commonly 
referred to as "extensive farming." Too mncli 
of onr land is being thns exploited. On the other 
hand the productiveness of the soil may be very 
greatly im])roved. Denmark, Belgium, Germany, 
and other European nations have fully demon- 
strated that l)y the application of science to the 
art of agriculture, the ])roductiveness of the soil 
can be multi])lied almost to tJie limit of necessity. 

A Prof/ressirc Af/rinilfiirc. Fortunately Na- 
ture has sup|)1ied every means for the develop- 
ment of a progressive and permanent agriculture. 
It is also obvious that it is man's privilege, if not 
his mission, to improve u]ion Nature — to substi- 
tute quality for mere physical endurance, in agri- 
cultural ])roducts. 

By the grace of Providence the individuals of 
the animal and vegeta1)le kingdoms were not creat- 
ed inflexible in hal)it or ])erfect in form, but they 
may be changed in character and (piality and in- 
trinsic worth at the will of the intelligent and ol)- 
serving farmer. To this end agricultural educa- 
tion lends its beneficent influence. Man's dominion 
over Nature would be such in name only were it 
not for the class-room and the laboratory, for re- 
search and investigation; for by these means 
scientific knowledge is obtained and diffused and 
eventually brought to l)ear upon the solution of 
the most vital problems that concern the human 
family. These problems center largely around 
food and clothing. To supply these necessities an 

Page Eight 



industry is created — the l)iisiness of agTieiiltnre — 
the most important industry in all the world. An 
industry of sneli fundamental importance, more- 
over, should receive from the states and from the 
federal Government tinancial consideration in pro- 
portion to its moral and economic importance as 
well as to the i)rol)abiliti(^s that may he entertain- 
ed for its continued improvement. For abundant 
as are earth's natural resources, yet without the 
aid and direction of human intelligence they could 
not sujjply Ihe world's ever increasing i)opulation 
with food, clothing and shelter. Complying with 
known conditions of natural reciprocity, however, 
the animal and vegetable kingdoms submit to 
what('\'('r modi ligations l)ecome necessary in 
order lo su])ply ilie needs of the human family. 

Xat)ire's Foiccs Operate lUnidhi. Moved, 
therefore, ]»artl\- by necessity and partly by curi- 
osit\', the materia! worM lias been and is being 
conlinually modilied b\- ihe ingenuity of man. TTn- 
directed, liowevei-. Nature's forces act bliuf^^y; 
hence, produce mainly such (pialities in organic 
life as endurauc(% or ada]»tation to local soil and 
climatic conditions. In the animal and veg(4al)le 
kingdoms the universal demand of Nature is to 
perpetuate their species — "to ])roduce after their 
own kin(L" In accordance with this law tlie 
humblest plant or animal is compelled to luaintain 
a perpetual warfare against its fellows for means 
of subsistence. 

This comi)etition for noui'ishment is usually so 
shar]) and cojilinuous that mere existence or en- 
durance rather than excellence or quality, seems 
to be I lie end and aim of natural law. Hence, the 
strong survive and the weak perish. 

Befi'ntr.infis of Af/rinilt'tre. Here agriculture 
begins. By relieving ])lants of this intense compe- 

Page Nine 



tition ])y means of 1illa.ii'o, and by selecting the 
most promising for domestieation, tliey are en- 
abled to use all their energy for tlie development 
of those qualities whieh add to their intrinsic 
value, instead of expending it in the struggle for 
existence. Given, thus, free access to the soil and 
sunshine, witli needful noui'ishment supplied and 
their fungous or parasitical enemies destroyed, 
the domesticated plants yield trustful obedience 
to the protecting hand of the husbandman. Freed 
altogether from the necessity of self-protection 
they become yjrolitic and pour into the world's 
bread basket in marvelous al)undance the seeds— 
a single one of which would suffice to answer Na- 
ture's law foi' the propagation of species. Tliis 
surplus of yield for whicli eac]i y)lant has need of 
Imt a single seed, and inorc especially this im- 
in-ovement of (jualily for which the plant has no 
ccmcern, is Nature's reciprocal reward for having 
given her children gratuitously tliat protectii:n 
wliicli otheT'wiso they would liave had to ])rovid(' 
for themselves. 

Nor is aniiiial life less suscepti])le of improve- 
ment. Between the animal wild and the animal 
domosticaled — tliat is whether Nature-bred or 
man-bred — Ihe range in rpiality is as marked as 
that which sejia rates the savage from the phi- 
losopher. 

Nature (h^mands only strength, endurance; but 
man demands quality and excellence, and lie pro- 
ceeds scientifically to accomplish his purpose. By 
conscious design and a sort of mental architecture 
the animal to ho is i)lanned, and the picture thus 
conceived in the brain of the breeder becomes in- 
carnated in the form, size and character of the 
animal. Not only is the animal created with the 
dcsii-ed quality as to its parts and products, Imt its 

Page Ten 



nature is traiisforiiuMl from fear and ferocity to 
tliat of trust and docility. 

For example the descendants of the wild horse 
are not only changed from vicions brntes to trust- 
ful beasts of burden, but are also differentiated 
into many different breeds to meet the demands 
of strength, speed or endurance. Specimens of 
such breeds as the Belgian, Percheron or Hamble- 
tonian exist as monumenls to the breeder's art 
no less renowned and for more useful purpose 
than anything in Xaturcs tlie likeness of which the 
sculptor has wrought in inarble or the artist has 
transferred from life to canvass. 

From Iho wild buffalo, presumably, the ideal 
strains of pedigree kine, for beef or dairy prod- 
ucts, have been created as surely and even more 
scientifically than the scul)")tor has immortalized 
his ideals in granite or mar])le. 

Tlius animal life is 1o llu^ skillful bree<ler as 
clay in the han(!s of the potter, and though a su- 
persensitive and artificial generation may look up- 
on this form of genius as vulgar, it nevertheless 
is God's work and the doers thereof are working 
with God. For without this incarnation of quality 
into plant and animal life the world's population 
could not supply its fundamental wants nor could 
civilization rise above the animal instincts in iiian. 

The farmer, therefore, is a most important 
personage, and his vocation the most absolutely 
needful in all the world. The farmer is in very 
truth a creator, certainly a co-creator, i]U])r()ving 
Nature by the aid of science, just as the lunnan 
mind and eharacter are improved by means of edu- 
cation. And when the prejudice of the aa'es has 
been rolled away the name "farmer" will rank 
among the most envied names that enrich our 

Page Eleven 



mother tongue. Jiere, indeed, may be verified the 
saving: "The first sliall be last and the last shall 
be first." 

Wliile we liojior tlie scnlptor, the painter or the 
poet wliose genins partakes of the immortal, and 
yet satisfies no hungry mouth, some degree of 
honor might well be givon to this other soi't of 
genius wliieli has multiplied human food beyond 
computation and has otherwise so largely ]niti- 
gated the burdens of life. 

Vocational Educatiou. From the foregoing it 
is little wonder that the education of the masses is 
surely and rapidly gravitating from the classical 
to the utilitarian, from the formal to the vocation- 
al. The world's work must be done, and as those 
whose stewardship is the soil are compelled to 
render a combined physical and mental service 
in order to discharge their social obligations, IJiey 
are entitled to education in harmony with the 
tasks awaiting them, to the end that they may 
work intelligently, hence joyfully. 

Agriculture and engineering, therefore, are 
fundamental vocations when considered eiliier 
from tlie view-point of necessity or the country's 
prosperity. By many, however, the spiritual well- 
being of a people is considered paramount, and in 
a sense it is, but a cheerful soul seldom inhabits 
a naked or hungry body. 

As food, clothing and shelter are absolute 
necessities, no degree of culture or religious 
enthusiasm can render them less needful. 
Heaven's choicest physical gift, the soil, provides 
the means for acquiring these indispensable neces- 
sities, and the vocation that accepts the respon- 
sibility of its stewardship ministers to the physic- 
al, as educators minister to the mental, or the 
clergy to the spiritual needs of man. Moreover, 

Page Twelve 



in the order of Nature the physical takes pre- 
cedence, being primary and basic, and nntil legiti- 
mate physical wants are snpplied neither mental 
nor spiritual food can be satisfactorily assimi- 
lated. 

A commonwealth, therefore, that educates her 
children in due proportion to and in harmony with 
the demands of her principal industry, acts the 
part of wisdom. In this the state becomes the 
servant of 1)oth present and future generations by 
training her children for the conservation of Na- 
ture's gifts, while yet multiplying their use for the 
comfort and happiness of all the people. If the 
clergy wouhl preach occasionally from the book of 
Nature, they would discover a proximity to and 
dependence upon God enjoyed by hiin who sows 
and reaps, who cultivates animals and flowers, 
who creates tilings and works miracles as his 
ordinary life work, which few others can enjoy. 
Such tliemes miglit not only 1)e exi)(>unded with 
j)rolit to those who work their fellowmeu, but 
should also ])e impressed lietimes upon those who 
work tlie soil for the good of their fellowmeu. 

Thr Pdrdmouiif rrohlcni. The )>nramount 
problem, therefore, is to make tlie conditions of 
I'ural life desiral^le — to convert farming into an 
enjoyable vor-ation; to make farm life and its 
labors a business to be envied and not despised. 
The fact is, planning for beauty and comfort in 
the city has progressed far and away beyond the 
country. It now but remains for the country to 
catch up and go the city many times better. This 
is entirely possible, since the great "out doors" 
is a country heritage and ample spaces are avail- 
able for exterior delights such as trees, shrubbery 
and flowers, and for free access to alnmdance of 
pure air and sunshine. 

Page Thirteen 



Moreover, we slioiiM not for,£;'et tliat we are 
now livini;' in a new world. The old agrienltiire 
and its associated rural industries have been 
shaken to their very foundation. Tliis makes the 
solution of the rural problem, to some extent, 
s])eculative. 

For one thing tlie countr}' is beeoniing urban- 
ized. This may prove helpful. Again it may not. 
hidividuaHsm, however, is giving place more and 
more to eoiumereialized enterprise. At the same 
time the evils of transient tenantry follow close 
upon tlie heels of successful farming, where farm- 
ers rent their land and move to town; and also of 
unsuccessful farming, where the mortgage shark 
eveutually I)ecomes ])ossessed of the land. Wliat 
the state ueods to encourage, therefore, is farm 
ownership !)y tlie mauy rath.er than by the few, 
and farm ownership rather than farm tenantry. 
We nmst retain on the farm, as farmers, the liest 
type of American manhood and womanhood or 
the nation will fall into decay, just as Rome fell 
witli tlie decline of her agrarian influence. 

Tho consolidated country school, by rendering- 
obsolete tlie one roo^u district school house, is a 
progressive step toward improved educational 
facilities for rural children. 

The country church, on the other baud, has be- 
come more d.'cadent than aggressive. This among 
other rural agencies is not organized in propor- 
tion to its iniDortance. Some progress, however, 
is being made l)y means of social organizations, 
but the ultimate solution of the rural problem de- 
])ends moi-e largely upon education than upon any 
otlier siuii-le factor. 

Riir<(J Si)ciiil Leaders. Rural social leaders in 
full sympathy with the country life movement will 
find here a fruitful tield for earnest endeavor. To 

Page Fourteen 



no class should tiic state look for sneli leadership, 
and witli so iiiiich assuraiiee, as to the alumni of 
its Agrienltiii'al (V)lle!^'e, Ediieated at ])iiblic ex- 
pense and in an institution of hi,i>'lier learning- that 
stands syjecifieally for all-ronnd rnral improve- 
ment and rnral |)atriotism, the stndents that go 
ont from this college cannot misinterpret their 
duties nor fail to understand the responsilnlities 
they assume as graduates of the North Dakota 
Agricultural College. Nor is tlieir field of lal)or 
an unenvial)le one. It may at times seem irksome, 
even discouraging, Init nevertheless it is the most 
exalted and dignified calling to which men and 
women of special traini?ig and culture can aspire. 

To rescue the soil from the indifference and 
greed and selfishness wh.erein this generation un- 
wiftingly r()])s succeediiig generations of their 
rightful inheritance, and to rescue^ the very voca- 
tion of agriculture fj'om mer('enary interests is 
a mission worthy of the hest leadershi]) and ])a- 
triotism of our day. But it must nof stop even at 
this. The ])uhlic welfai'c demands that n(nn'ly lialf 
the population of the entire (Mnmtry, and certaiidy 
four-fifths of tlie population of this state, shall 
permanently ])ursue agrieidtnre for a livelihood. 
This vocation, therefore, must he made so desir- 
able and satisfying that that number will Joyfully 
accept it as a matter of free choice. Tt must be 
so developed that it will afford an unsuri^issed 
market for energy and brains, and so independent 
of parasitical interests that when two bushels of 
wheat are grown where one now grows the pro- 
ducer will receive the lienefit. 

Iiiri-casrrJ Piuxhirfioji Knf Sufficieuf. Hither- 
to the agencies for rural improvement, both state 
and federal, have directed their energies chiefly 
toward increased production. And this with Init 

Page Fifteen 



scant consideration for profits that should be real- 
ized by the producer as a result of the larger 
yields. Material prosperity, however, is not a suf- 
ficient motive, except where it assuredly is used 
to improve the moral and social conditions of the 
community life. To double the yield of crops 
without doubling the enjoyments of living and im- 
proving home comforts accordingly, will avail but 
little toward developing rural conditions that will 
withstand the competition and false allurements 
of the city. 

Urban Degeneracy. A nation's strength, more- 
over, is a matter of blood and brain fiber. Urban 
degeneracy is an accepted biological fact. The 
dissipation, lack of physical exercise in the open 
air, and high pressure living and working leaves 
in its trail a progeny dimiuisliing in numbers and 
decadent in those high qualities essential to good 
government. 

Democracy, as a permanent institution, how- 
ever, is not yet an assured fact. The experiment 
of self-government is still in the making. Its per- 
petuity cannot b« predicated u]ion scheming trad- 
ers, money brokers and political manipulators, 
but must depend in the last analysis upon the solid 
phlegm and conservatism of its rural districts 
where men are too busy with productive labor to 
scheme for political office or unearned wealth. In 
other words, and I speak it with sincerity, the 
rural poj)ulation conserves the real dependable 
life blood of this nation. It is an accepted fact 
that in every crisis of our country's history the 
rural population was not only on the side of right, 
but ready to defend the nation's honor with their 
votes or witli their blood. 

When the nation's debt was appalling and 
money poured into the national treasury in but 

Page Sixteen 



feeble currents, tlie tariffs that replenished it 
again were Ijorne like a young Hercules by the 
farming class, though they received but a mini- 
mum of its protection. Every influence, therefore, 
that tends to exalt agriculture as a profession, 
and farming as a desirable mode of life, whether 
it be intellectual, political, ethical or spiritual, is 
for the general welfare. 

The time is not far distant, let us hope and 
pray, when agriculture will cast off the thralldom 
of tlie ages and assert her own. But not until the 
sons and daughters of the country, trained for 
rural social and industrial service, as you are be- 
ing trained, assert an aggressive leadership, with 
genuine patriotism for the needs of the open 
country, will the domination of ulterior interests 
be removed and agriculture made free to manage 
its educational institutions and business aifairs, 
in part at least, for its own good. 

The liiiral School Prohlcm. Since education is 
the governing factor, especially so far as it directs 
the attitude of rural children toward rural condi- 
tions, the country school should be so redirected 
and revitalized as to "stir into action community 
forces which are now dormant; and to make the 
rural school a strong and efficient social center, 
working for the upbuilding of all the varied in- 
terests of a hoaltliv rural life." 



"The redirection of rural education means 
that the school is to abandon its city ideals and 
standards, excejit as tliese are adaptable to rural 
as well as to city schools, and to develop its in- 
struction with reference to its environment and 
the local interests and needs. The main efforts 
of its instruction should be to put its pupils into 
sympathetic touch with the rural life about them, 
in which the great majority of them ought to find 
their future homes." — Cubberley. 

Page Seventeen 



Tlic away-froni-tlie-farm-iiiflneiice of rural 
education wliiei] has in the past proved a serious 
iiandieap to rural progress and open country pur- 
suits, would thus be materially counteracted. 

(,)u()tin,i>- (^ibberley a,i>ain : 

' ' Tlic iiiiiforni text-hooks wliich have been 
iiitroiliieed by law, were I'ooks written primarily 
for the city child; the graded course of study was 
a. city course of study; the ideals of the school 
become, in large part, city and professional in 
type; and the city-educated and city-trained teach- 
ers have talked of the city, over-emphasized the 
affairs of the city, and sighed to get back to the 
city to teach. The subjects of instruction have 
been formal and traditional, and the course of 
instruction has been designed more to prepare 
for entrance to a city or town high school than 
for life in the open country. So far as the school 
has been vocational in spirit, it has been the 
city vocations and professions for which it has 
tended to prepare its pupils, and not the voca- 
tions of the farm and the home." 

Then says Kooscvelt : 

' ' Our scliool system is gravely defective in 
so far as it puts a premium upon mere literary 
training and tends, therefore, to train the boy 
away from the farm and workshop. Nothing is 
more needed than the best type of an industrial 
school, the school for mechanical industries in the 
cities and for teaching agriculture in the country. 
Xo growth of cities, no growth of wealth can 
make up for any loss in either the number or 
the character of the farming population. We of 
the United States should realize this above most 
other people. We began our existence as a nation 
of farmers, and in every crisis of the past a 
peculiar dependence has had to be placed upon 
the farming population, and this dependence has 
hitherto been justified." 

The Rural Church Problem. No permanent 
rural civilization, liowever, can be maintained that 
will attach the population to the soil with satis- 
faction and contentment without provision being 
made for enjoying religious services among 

Page Eighteen 



people of their own kind and class. This necessi- 
tates a social and religions center for every rural 
community. The church can and should be made 
such social center. For economic and social rea- 
sons, however, denominationalism can well be dis- 
pensed with, as such, and just plain Christianity 
substituted for sectarianism. A social center thus 
maintained will stimulate neighborly intercourse 
and satisfy the demands of both young and old 
for religious culture, for recreation and pastime. 
Where schools are consolidated the school house 
and grounds will answer for all gatherings 
whether for worshi]), for the discussion of civic or 
neighborhood problems or for recreation and 
amusement. Vov without such neighborhood in- 
tercourse, life detorioralcs into a dull routine, 
and the moral and religious tone of a community, 
degenerates. ^Foreover, under such conditions, 
young people Ix'come disgusted witli its monotony 
and nimlessiu'ss, and seek c\\y employment. 

But before tlie country church can be made an 
efficient community force, pastors must be found 
or created that meet the conditions of country life. 
A most excellent city pastor might prove to be a 
regrettable misfit in a riii'al community. ^Morc^- 
over, the modern chM'gy seem (|uite as prone to 
herd in the towns and cities as tlie rest of man- 
kind, wliicli fact has a bad influence on the youth 
of tlie country. 

Quoting from Rural Life and Education : "The 
rural minister needs economic and agricultural 
knowledge more than theological, that he may use 
the economic and agricultural experiences of his 
people as a basis for the building-up of their 
ethical life; he needs educational knowledo-e, that 
he may direct his efforts with the young along- 
good pedagogical rmes; and the cliurch as an in- 

Page Nineteen 



stitntioii needs to study carefully the rural-life 
problem, and to plan a ])rosram of useful service 
along good educational and sociological lines. Un- 
less this is done, the church will bear but little 
relationship to a living community; its influence 
on the young will be small; and its mission of 
moral and religious leadership will be forgotten 
by the i:)eople." 

Other Agencies for Rural Improvement. In 
addition to providing country schools and employ- 
ing rural school teachers as efficient as the best 
in the towns, and the country church reawakened 
and converted into an efficient institution for prog- 
ress, the Grange, farmers' clul)s, the Y. M. and 
Y. W. C. A., the rural lil)rary, boys and girls' 
clubs, farmers' institutes, woman's clul)s, literary 
and debating societies and ainateur theatricals, of 
which the Little Country Theatre is the best ex- 
ponent, can wit]) i)r()fit ))e incorporated into tlie 
life of every rin-al community that maintains a 
social center, and th;it takes genuine pride in mak- 
ing country life wliat the possibilities so readily 
warrant. 

No one of these separate organizations, even 
though fullv developed and earnestly supported, 
will altogether satisfy the needs of a community. 
No one of them should be over-emphasized for its 
own sake alone, for each is but a part of the com- 
munity need. All are needed. Tlie friends of each, 
therefore, sliouhl worl< for all and all work for 
each, and becoming thus federated, they will 
prove to be a ])Ositive force and establish, beyond 
question, a community spii'it satisfactory to old 
and young alike. 

A sufficient number of these rural social insti- 
tutions to meet the changed conditions of modern 
life is as essential as a progressive and highly 

Page Twenty 



contented a,i>Ticultnre ; for without such institu- 
tions aiirieulture will decline until on a level with 
the peasantry of other and less favored countries. 
For just in proportion as ai>riculture advances or 
declines will the ])r()sperity of the people rise or 
fall, and the inte^Tity of our g-overmnent be stable 
or questionable. This fact has l)een clearly demon- 
strated in the history of nations; hence, steward- 
ship of the soil embraces not only conservalion of 
its fertility, but the fostering of such social in- 
stitutions and educational forces as may be neces- 
sary to sup])ort a rni'al civilization that will min- 
ister to all the ]ihysical, mental and si)iritual wants 
of a highly intellectual and permanent ]t()pidation. 
Said James A. Garfield: 

" Tlio liightM- ediu-atioii of the village ainl city 
youth, to^iother with a modioum of the coviiitry 
youth, witli oiilv the fifth to eighth grade for the 
best hTood of the state may stand for the edu- 
cator 's ideals, Imt it is bad for the country as a 
whole. It tends to make aristocrats of the poorest 
and slaves of the best blood. Education is for 
all, not for a favored few." 

The MoniU Arf. The Morrill Act of 1802 was 
the iirst im])ortant step toward the emancipation 
of agriculture. The establishment of the Land 
Grant Colleges was the biggest piece of construc- 
tive legislation that Congress has enacted during 
the past century. By means of higher education 
thus redirected and vitalized, industrial inde- 
pendence will ultimatply be realized. But the work 
moves slowly. However, in spite of ridicule and 
unmerited handicaps, and even the contempt of 
too many of the farming class, these institutions 
have grown steadily in influence and power. 

The North Dakota Agricultural College directs 
its energies toward a system of education that at 
once affords all the means of culture and character 

Page Twenl^-one 



building that collegiate courses of study can otTer, 
3^et without departing materially from giving 
special emphasis to those subjects which are di- 
rectly related to the homes and the chief industry 
of the state. 

The purpose is not only to increase production 
as a means of profit and to render helpful social 
service, but to make farm life and rural conditions 
so agreeable and satisfying that the choice of 
agricultural pursuits, on the part of educated 
young people, will prove as popular and inviting 
as that of any other industry or profession. This 
is not an impossibility. From an educational view- 
point no vocation exceeds agriculture in the ma- 
terial available for calling out the best there is in 
man, spiritually or intellectually. From a social 
viewpoint, the country represents the purest and 
most neighborly sympathies. And from an in- 
dustrial viewpoint it is the state's support and 
sliould be the state's pride. North Dakota will 
expand in wealth and influence, therefore, in pro- 
portion as she tlirows wide open the door of agri- 
cultural opportunity for the young people of the 
state. This she can best accomplish by means of 
public education expressed in terms of rural life. 

After twenty years of service as President of 
your Agricultural College, I find that my chief 
gratification comes from having associated daily 
with a loyal and dependable faculty and with so 
many clean, ambitious and s^'mpathetic young 
men and women. 

In you and the thousands of Agricultural Col- 
lege students scattered over this and adjoining 
states, many of them having already won enviable 
distinction by their public services, and all giving 
evidence of most exemplary citizenship, I not only 
take sincere pride but also find my chief reward. 
Others may scheme for wealth or fame, but for 

Page Twenly-two 



one at my time in life, I would not exchange the 
friendship of the Agricultural College student 
body, past and present, for earthly riches or per- 
sonal honor. 

T have implicit faith in the future of our Agri- 
cultural College as I have in this great agricul- 
tural state. Her broad acres are being rapidly 
occupied by a progressive and enterprising hus- 
bandry. Her cities and villages keep pace with 
her rural development. The dreams of the 
pioneers are fast becoming realities. The erst- 
while home of the red man and the feeding ground 
of the bison, are destined soon to be thickly dotted 
over with luxurious farmsteads, made beautiful 
by the arts of civilization and ])r()sperous l)y the 
skill and industry of a happy and contented rural 
population. 

_ Shidents of the Agricultural Collego, your 
mission lies iii this direction. Your influence up- 
on the future dev^elopment of this state will be as 
certain as it will be beneficient. The door of op- 
poi-tunity stands ajar, inviting you to enter and 
sliare the blessings that reward the industrious 
and reap the honors that crown the lives of those 
whose st(^wardship has been faithfully kept. May 
no temptation ever swerve you from loyalty to the 
cause which vour alma mater rejiresents. Too 
often the enemies of industrial freedom capture 
with the blandishments of vanity, the trusted 
leaders of reform 

Let your hearts, therefore, ever beat true for 
the best there may be in store for those whose 
sweat fertilizes the business of the state. The 
cause of the people should ever be your cause, and 
having received your education largely at their 
expense, spare not a generous service in return 
for the academic honors that now await you. 

Page Twenty-three 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

002 744 002 2 9 



